Staying in Shape As You Age: The Best Exercises for Seniors
Everyone knows the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but for seniors, it's even more vital to stay active every day. By adding just 30 minutes of light exercise a day, seniors can receive several health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease, a decrease in blood pressure, and a reduced risk of fractured bones.
But for many seniors, the thought of exercising can seem daunting. Their bodies are in pain and even just going for a walk feels like a tall hurdle to jump.
With that being said, there are still some great exercises even the most limited seniors can practice.
Keep reading for the best exercises for seniors of all activity levels.
1. Water Aerobics
Going swimming or doing water aerobics is a fantastic exercise for seniors because the water provides support while also working your muscles and increasing strength.
Unlike many exercises out of the water, water aerobics puts minimal stress on both your muscles and your joints. You'll get to move around and get a workout without worrying about putting your body through too much strain.
2. Physical Therapy
If you have a physical disability or recently experienced a fall, you may think exercise is out of the question. But that is far from the truth. In fact, it's more important than ever to work your muscles in any way that you can.
3. Yoga
Yoga is a great exercise for seniors who can't do heavy cardio or weight training exercises. You can come up with a yoga routine that fits your abilities and works on the parts of the body you want to improve.
There are plenty of senior yoga classes to attend. If you prefer to do yoga at home, there are a ton of senior yoga YouTube videos that are low-intensity and will work on the areas of your body that need the most attention.
4. Walking
The easiest, and perhaps most important, exercise on this list is walking. If your body allows you to go for a walk each day, you can enjoy the benefits of improved heart health, pain reduction, improved mental health, and much more.
If walking sounds daunting, start out slow and short. Just go for a five-minute walk, and slowly build your way up. You'll be walking for an hour every morning before you know it.
Try the Best Exercises for Seniors for a Healthier Lifestyle
Exercising is important for people at any stage of life, but it's especially important for seniors. While the thought of exercising may seem impossible, if you start small with the best exercises for seniors and have the support of Elite Home Health Care, you'll find yourself exercising every day without a second thought.
Looking for more ways to improve your overall health? Check out our blog on the most nutritional foods for seniors!
